For immediate release: February 16, 2012
Contact: Communications Manager, Project WET Foundation | 406-585-4115 | email
Bozeman, Montana—The Project WET Foundation is partnering with the Houston Chapter of the National Basketball Retired Players Association (NBRPA) to teach more than 100 Houston-area students about fundamental water concepts at a "Make a Splash" Water Festival. With games, races and other interactive learning methods, the Leap Day event will allow participants to learn about water in a fun and hands-on way.
"Most of us take water for granted," said Major Jones, the president of the NBRPA-Houston Chapter. "After meeting with Project WET and seeing the difference water makes in people's lives, the NBRPA-Houston Chapter is delighted to join forces with Project WET to educate everyone on just how valuable water really is."
"Given the recent severe drought in Houston, the nation's fourth largest city, raising awareness about how we use water is more important than ever," Project WET Senior Vice President John Etgen added. "We're thrilled to join together with Houston's NBA Legends to tackle this vital issue."
Middle and high school students from the Tekoa Charter School will participate in the half-day event, which will be held on the campus of Texas Southern University
(TSU) in Houston. Approximately 20 NBA Legends will join Project WET's water education experts to conduct five different learning stations. Station activities will cover water topics such as the water cycle, the role of water in health, international water issues and the need for cooperation in water management.
Based on the award-winning Project WET curriculum used nationwide, the Make a Splash Water Festival provides a solid educational framework for teachers and students to engage with the topic of water. While grounded in water science principles, the water festival also promotes a multidisciplinary and interactive approach to learning by incorporating social studies, geography, language arts, fine art and history. The event also fosters awareness of, and respect for, water resources, encouraging a personal, lifelong commitment of responsibility and positive community participation.
About Project WET: Since 1984, the Project WET Foundation, an award-winning U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, has dedicated itself to the mission of reaching children, parents, teachers and community members of the world with water education. Project WET is active in all 50 U.S. states and in more than 55 countries worldwide. Learn more at www.projectwet.org.
About NBRPA-Houston Chapter: A non-profit organization comprised of former professional basketball players committed to developing and utilizing their community stature to support and participate in socially responsible initiatives that focus on, but are not limited to, education, health and children's causes. Learn more at www.nbrpahouston.org.